Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee, pitched three bills backed by the O'Malley administration, including one that would make it a crime to commit an act of domestic violence in front of a child.

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler testified on a similar proposal that would make it a crime to commit any act of violence in front of children who are at least two-years-old.

Gansler held a press conference before the hearings and said he "couldn't care less" which bill passed, as long as one did.

Brown also pitched a bill that would make it easier for certain domestic violence victims to get permanent peace orders. But it was a third proposal, which would lower the burden of proof for all domestic violence victims to get protective orders, that Brown said in an interview was the most important.

He said every state besides Maryland have that lower burden of proof, and applying it here would "immensely" help reduce domestic violence.

Montgomery County Del. Heather Mizeur is also running in the Democratic primary for governor.

Introducing a note of civility into an increasingly hard-hitting race for governor, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown wrote to one of his Democratic rivals expressing approval of her legislation to decriminalize possession of marijuana.

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler opened a new line of attack Tuesday against fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown: campaign contributions from donors with links to the flubbed Maryland health exchange.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan pledged bipartisanship and offered a conciliatory tone during his snowy inauguration Wednesday, promising "to create an environment of trust and cooperation, where the best ideas rise to the top based on upon their merit."

Advocates for programs spending state dollars on stem cell research or investment in technology companies were nervous about what Gov. Larry Hogan's budget would hold for them, given warnings of "strong medicine" to cure fiscal woes.

Calling it a first step toward fully restoring the death penalty in Maryland, Del. Pat McDonough said he plans to introduce a bill that would mandate capital punishment for anyone convicted of killing a police or correctional officer, a firefighter or witness during the performance of their duty.